Envelope opener



June 28, 1932. T. N. JOHNSON ENVEIJOPE` OPENER Filed May ll, 1931 2 Sheets-Shea?l Inventor y June :28,` 1932. T N. JOHNSCN 1,864,830v

ENVELOPE OPENER Filed. May ll, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenlqr jvlzamafaIJzn-s'an,

,/qllorney Patented June 28, 1932 STATES THOMAS N. JOHNSON,

OF ROME, NEW vYORK ENVELOPE OPENER Application filed May 11,

The present invention relates to an envelope opener and has for its prime object to provide an apparatus whereby envelopes may be opened in an easy and expeditious manner by cutting olf one edge thereof.

Another very important object of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus of this naturewhich is exceedingly simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable, easy to manipulate, thoroughly eiicient and reliable in use and operation, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-*5 of Figure 8.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of one end of the tray.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes a block on one side of which is secured a tray comprising a bottom 6, a side 7 rising therefrom, and ends 8 rising therefrom. One end 8 is provided in its upper edge with a notch 9. The side 7 may be provided with openings 10.

The bottom 6 is secured on the block 5 at one side thereof so that the side wall 7 is disposed in spaced relation to said side. Screws, pins or the like 12 are engaged in said side of the block to extend a slight distance in the tray and have thereon a plate 14, the upper 50 edge of which is flush with the upper edge of 1931. seran no. 536,570.

the block' and one end of which is curvedV outwardly from the block as at 15. Another plate'16 is on the pins or screws and has an end 17 turned inwardly opposite from the end 15 to engage the plate 14, thus holding the 55 plates 14 and 16 normally spaced.

A knife or blade 18 has one end pivoted on one of the pins or screws adjacent offset end 15 between the plates 14 and 16, the notch 9 being provided to accommodate the handle 19 ofthe blade or knife. Plate 16 has its intermediate portion bellied inwardly as is clearly illustrated in Figure 5.

An envelope is placed on top of the block 5 with the edge desired to be opened extending over the upper edges of the plates 14 and 16 and the blade 18 is swung downwardly thus severing ed this edge of the envelope and the cooperation of the offset ends 15 and 17 of the plates 14 and 16 insure a clear cut of the envelope so that the same is severed in an expeditious manner.

It is thought that the construction, utility and operation of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated als desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacriicing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a block, pinsl projecting from a side of lthe block, a plate on the pins, a second plate on the pins, and a blade pivoted on one of the pins between the plates, the first mentioned plate having an offset end bearing against the pivoted end of the blade, the second mentioned plate having an oset end remote from said end of the first mentioned plate to en- 1 l gage the first mentioned plate and hold the second mentioned plate in spaced relation to the rst mentioned plate.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a j block, pins projecting from a side of the block, a plate -on the pins, a second plate on the pins, and a blade pivoted on one of the pins between the plates, the first mentioned plate having an offset end bearing against ,a the pivoted end of the blade, the second mentoned plate having an offest end remote from said end of the first mentioned plate to engage the first mentioned plate and hold the second mentioned plate in spaced relation to 25 the first menioned plate, the second men tioned plate having its intermediate portion bellied inwardly toward the first mentioned plate by the pressure Contact of the offset end portion of the second plate against the rst 0 mentioned plate.

In testimony whereof I afiX my signature.

THOMAS N. JOHNSON. 

